
Class JIB, "Si^ 
CopATiglit X" 



-z.. 



COnUIC.lIT DKHOSIT. 




RUTH 



2>ramatic Stubies 



FROM THE BIBLE 



BY 



lemma iflorencc jEaton 




XCbe iPf Igrim press 

BOSTON 

NEW YORK CHICAGO 

1906 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

JUL 23 1906 

//Copyrigfti Entry 
ASS (Z XXC. No. 
COPY B. / 



Copyright igo6 by 
Emma Florence Eaton 



s 






PREFACE. 
J 

This little group of dramatic scenes was written 
with no thought of pubUcation, but merely for the 
personal use of Miss Leila Simon in her public readings 
before churches and colleges. So kindly has been the 
reception of the studies, and so persistent the wish to 
have them in permanent form, that it is thought best 
to publish them. 

There is no originaHty of plot in this series of dra- 
matic studies from the Bible — only an attempt to 
reproduce a Httle of the splendid color and atmosphere 
of ancient Israel, and to picture again some of the 
vivid, often strangely beautiful, scenes of the Palestine 
of the past. 

E. F. E. 



CONTENTS. 
PART I. 

SOME PICTURES OF THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL. 

1. By the River Nile 13-18 

2. Ruth: A Pastoral Idyl 21-29 

Scene i. " Whither thou goest, I will go." 
Scene 2. In the Field of Boaz. 

3. A Daughter's Sacrifice 33-38 

Scene i. The Vow of Jephthah. 
Scene 2. On Mount Gilead. 

4. Esther, the Queen 41-51 

Scene i. Pleading for Her People. 
Scene 2. At the Banquet Table. 



PART II. 

GLIMPSES OF FOUR GREAT HEBREWS. 

1 . Scenes in the Life of Joseph 57-76 

Scene i. Joseph and His Brethren. 

Scene 2. In Pharaoh's Court. 

Scene 3. Before the Governor of Egypt. 

2. Moses, the Man of God 79-88 

Scene i. The Song of Victory. 
Scene 2. The Farewell of Moses. 

3. In the Temple of Dagon 91-95 

4. The Voice at Midnight 99-101 



PART L 

SOME PICTURES OF 
THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL, 



BY THE RIVER NILE. 



1B^ the •River mic. 

IN the dim half-light of early morning a 
woman stood among the green rushes by 
the river Nile. A little babe was folded 
closely to her breast. And there stood near by 
a young maiden, with dark, eager eyes. And 
the woman looked back in fear across the 
meadows toward the temples and shining domes 
of the great city. 

^< And thou art sure, Miriam, that no one had 
knowledge of our coming? " 

" Yea, my mother; it was still so early when 
we crept away that no one marked our flight." 

" And, Miriam, hast thou the little ark that 
I made mine own self from the bulrushes by the 
river? I cannot see for the tears that blind me." 

"Yea, my mother; it is here. I did hide it 
among the reeds." 

And Miriam drew out from the flags by the 
river's brink the little cradle of bulrushes. And 
the woman took the babe and kissed it and 
placed it tenderly in the cradle. And the child 
opened his eyes and smiled, and the mother 
stooped down and put both arms about him and 
again and still again she kissed him. And 

13 



2)camatic StuDtee trom tbe Xiblc 

Miriam also bent down her head and she laid 
her face by the face of the child. 

" Oh, Miriam, how can I let him go — my 
beautiful little babe? Who would have dreamed 
that there could live a king so cruel as to com- 
mand this wicked thing — to tear her infant 
sons from every Hebrew mother's breast and 
slay them! Oh, so surely as the God of Abra- 
ham doth live, so surely will the curse descend 
upon this Egyptian Pharaoh with his heart of 
stone. And the babe — how can I leave him 
here alone upon the river? He will die of 
hunger. And at night he will want my arms 
to soothe him to his sleep. And yet — I dare 
not keep him longer. The soldiers of the king 
already have suspicions. God, protect my 
child!" 

And the maiden, Miriam, answered her : 

" Yea, mother, and I think that God will pro- 
tect him. Something there is within my heart 
that tells me. But see, the morning goeth 
swiftly on. Some one may find us and the babe. 
Shouldst thou not leave him now? And I — 
I will tarry here and watch him from afar." 

Then they kissed the child once more and 
hid him in the ark of bulrushes in the tall reeds 
by the river. And the woman drew her mantle 
down over her face and went away into the city. 
And many times she looked back, weeping. 

14 



36^ tbe TRlver Wle 

But Miriam sat down under a great palm- 
tree that she might watch over the child. And 
as she sat there, she heard a sound of merry 
laughter. She lifted up her eyes, and lo, there 
came a company of gay Egyptian damsels unto 
the edge of the river. And glittering chains of 
gold and of silver hung about their necks. And 
splendid gems flashed from their arms and ankles. 
Flowing silken robes they wore of dark green 
and of scarlet. 

And one of the damsels was more stately and 
more lovely than the rest, and her raiment was 
of purple, with a girdle of jeweled gold. She 
sat down among the flowers on the bank. And 
she said unto one of her maidens : 

" Is all ready, my Renodes, for our bathing 
in the river? It is well that we came thus early, 
so beautiful and so radiant is the morning." 

And the maiden Renodes answered: 

" Yea, dear princess Thermuthis, all is ready 
and waiting for thy word." 

But as she spoke, the princess suddenly cried 
out and pointed toward the rushes at their feet. 

" But, Renodes, and all my maidens, what is 
this I see? Look yonder where the reeds are 
thick and green! " 

And Renodes ran unto the edge of the bank and 
she drew forth from its hiding place the little 
ark of bulrushes and she placed it on the groimd 

15 



2)ramatlc StuMeg from tbe JBtble 

at the feet of the princess, and all the maidens 
clustered round to look in wonder at the little 
babe who was lying asleep in the soft, green 
cradle. 

And Thermuthis whispered : 

" Gently, gently now, my maidens, and wake 
him not. For surely from the very heavens he 
cometh, so fresh and fair and innocent he is. 
The loveliest thing mine eyes did ever see ! " 

And Renodes said : 

" Forsooth, I believe it is a child of one of the 
Hebrew women, and in her terror she has hid it 
here. Thou knowest, dear princess, of the 
decree sent forth by the king, thy father, that 
every new-bom Hebrew son must die." 

But Thermuthis started at her words, and she 
cried: 

" Nay, nay ; that shall never be. This Hebrew 
child is far too beautiful to die. Lo, in this so little 
space my heart doth yearn toward him. See 
how long his lashes lie upon his cheek." 

And as she spoke the baby stirred in his sleep, 
and then he opened his eyes. He looked from 
one to another of the damsels, and then in fear 
began to cry. And one by one the other maidens 
tried to charm away his fear. But the strange- 
ness of their faces and their ways but moved 
him to fresh tears. 

And then it was that Miriam, the dark-haired 

x6 



J8g tbe Wvct TRile 

Hebrew maiden, came near to them. She 
trembled as she stood there in her little linen 
robe. But she looked into the eyes of the prin- 
cess as she said : 

" Oh, if it please thee, let me speak. I did 
hear from afar the crying of the babe and I came 
to see what the cause might be. And lo, it is a 
Hebrew child. May it not be that a Hebrew 
nurse may best know how to still its grief? If 
thou dost wish, lo, I can find one for thee. For 
I, too, am of the Hebrews." 

And Thermuthis gently held the child within 
her arms and she answered : 

" Yea, it may be that a Hebrew nurse would 
understand more quickly. And because I truly 
love this little soft, warm thing that lies against 
my breast, I must have one to care for him for 
me. So go, then, my little maid, and return 
with speed with the Hebrew nurse thou speakest 
of." And joy danced into Miriam's heart. 
She ran like a bird into the city and was straight- 
way back again. And the mother of the child 
was with her. And the babe, when he saw her, 
held out his arms. And a smile came swiftly 
to his face. 

Then the princess Thermuthis said: 

" Lo, a strange thing, that this Hebrew 
woman hath such instant power to calm the 
Uttle one!" 

17 



Dramatic StuMeg from tbe 3BlbIe 

She put the child in the woman's arms. 

" Wilt thou nurse him for me until the time 
when he is old enough to live as mine own son 
at Pharaoh's court? " 

And the woman, when she could speak, for 
the joy that was pulsing through her, answered : 

*' Yea, thou daughter of the great Egyptian 
king, I will care for the child as if he were my 
own. Of this thou mayest be sure." 

Then Thermuthis said again: 

" It is well. I leave him with thee for a little 
space. And his name, — lo, I will call his name 
Moses, since from the water was he saved. And 
do thou guard him well, for the child has grown 
dear to me." 

Then the princess called her maidens and they 
went away through the shimmering sunshine, 
across the green meadows to the palace that 
was in the city. 

And a quiet look of knowledge passed into 
Miriam's eyes. She said: 

" I knew that God would find a way to help 
us. For always does he hear me when I pray." 

And the woman placed her arm about her 
little daughter Miriam, and then she bowed 
down her head upon the babe and prayed. 



i8 



RUTH: A PASTORAL IDYL. 

Scene !♦ ^Whither thou goest^ I will go*^ 
Scene 2* In the Field of Boaz* 



SCENE I. 

'^Mbitbcr tbou qocqU H will go/' 

ON the crest of one of the blue mountains 
of Moab three women were standing, in 
sorrow. Below them lay the gloomy 
waters of the Dead Sea. A white road stretched 
northward by the margin of the sea toward the 
Jordan River and distant Palestine. 

And two of the women were young and 
beautiful, with braids of soft, dark hair. And 
one was older than the others and there were 
lines of grief upon her face. A heavy black 
mantle covered her. And she said: 

" Hush ye now from your lamenting. Go, 
return each to thy mother's house, for now have 
I decided to go back again to mine own people 
in Bethlehem. 

" Long have I tarried in this land of Moab. 
And sacred is it always for the dear memory of 
my husband and my two sons. 

" And ye, Orpah and Ruth, go back to your 
people in Moab. And the Lord deal kindly with 
you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me." 

Then she kissed them. And the dark-haired 
damsel, Ruth, looked upon Naomi with tender 



Dramatic Stnt^ice from tbe JBtble 

eyes and she said : " Surely we will return with 
thee unto thy people." 

But Naomi folded her mantle about her and 
she said : " Nay, turn again, my daughters. 
Why will ye go with me? Turn again, my 
daughters; go your way. For it grieveth me 
much, for your sakes, that the hand of the 
Lord is gone out against me." 

And the young women held her to them, in 
sadness. But it came to pass, at last, that 
Orpah kissed Naomi, saying: 

" Surely it grieveth me to let thee go. For 
there is no one whom I love more than I love 
thee. Yet I know that thou speakest words of 
truth when thou sayest it would be better for 
me to return to my kindred. For I can do 
naught to help thee in this new land of Israel. 
Thy gods are strange to me ; thy people may 
prove unkind. So I will go back unto my home 
in Moab. Farewell, Naomi, and thou, Ruth, 
my sister." 

And Orpah went down the steep mountain 
path that led to the valley of Moab. And they 
watched her white robe until they could see it no 
more. 

Then Naomi turned unto Ruth, who still climg 
to her, albeit she looked with longing toward 
the pleasant gardens of her home, and Naomi 
said: 



yutb: B pagtoral tb^l 

" Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back. 
Return thou after her." 

But Ruth answered, " Intreat me not to leave 
thee, or to return from following after thee! " 

Then Naomi placed her arms in tenderness 
about the dark-haired Ruth. 

" But thou knowest not the dangers by the 
way. Many weary miles stretch out between 
us here and Bethlehem, where my old home and 
kindred be. We may grow faint for lack of 
food. And thou art young and art not used to 
hardships. I would spare thee grief and need- 
less pain. 

" But I am growing old. My hair is gray. I 
only long to rest me on the hills of my dear 
village until the end shall come." 

And a great weariness fell upon Naomi. In 
wistfulness she looked into Ruth's dark eyes. 
And the damsel lifted her face unto Naomi. 

" Nay, Naomi, whither thou goest, I will go ; 
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy 
people shall be my people, and thy God my God ! 

" Where thou diest. will I die, and there will I 
be buried. 

" The Lord do so to me, and more also, if 
aught but death part thee and me! " 



23 



SCENE n. 

irn tbc fielb of Boas* 

THE yellow cornfields stretched along the 
hill slope that was below Bethlehem. Far 
away in the distance, beyond the Jordan 
River, loomed in misty outline the high moun- 
tains of Moab. 

A noonday sun beat hotly down upon a com- 
pany of merry harvesters, who were reaping and 
gathering the sheaves together, and singing as 
they reaped. 

Many maidens followed after the reapers, 
gleaning what had fallen to the ground. They 
looked like bright flowers in their many-colored 
garments. But one of the damsels mingled not 
with the rest. She was very fair of face. Her 
eyes were dark and her hair was bound by a 
fillet about her forehead. And she wore a robe 
of white. 

She stopped for a moment to rest. She lis- 
tened to the harvest song sung by the reapers as 
they bent up and down with their sickles. 

Lo, now the reapers come again. 
The fields are ripe with golden grain. 
Thou God of harvests, thee we praise, 
For thy unceasing care ! 



2>camattc StuMeg from tbe 3Btble 

The valleys all are crowned with corn! 
From tender blade of green was born 
The full-grown ear that softly sways 
In this sun-lighted air! 

We shout for joy ! We also sing ! 
The hills of Bethlehem do ring 
With grateful songs ! Through all our days 
We own God's gracious care! 

And now, as the maiden gleaned again after 
the harvest song was ended, it came to pass 
that Boaz, the owner of the field, drew near. 
And he was tall and strong and his face was full 
of kindness. And he stretched out his hand to 
the reapers, saying, 

" The Lord be with you! '' 

And the young men answered him in joy, 

"The Lord bless thee!'' 

Then it was that Boaz lifted up his eyes and 
he saw the damsel who was bending low over 
the grain that had fallen on the field, and his 
heart grew warm within him as he saw her 
grace and beauty. And he said unto him who 
was at the head of the reapers: 

" Whose maiden is this? " 

And the servant answered: 

" It is Ruth, the Moabitish damsel that came 
back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 
And they have not wherewith they may keep 

from hunger, for they are in exceeding need. 

26 



• Rtttb: B pagtoral f&igl 

And Ruth came unto me and said : * I pray thee, 
let me glean and gather after the reapers among 
the sheaves.' And I did not say her nay. So 
has she come all these days." 

Then Boaz drew near unto Ruth and his voice 
was very gentle. 

" Hearest thou, my daughter? Go not to 
glean in any other field save this of mine. 
Neither go from hence, but abide fast by my 
maidens. 

" Let thine eyes be on the field that they do 
reap, and go thou after them. Have I not 
charged the young men that they shall be kind 
to thee? And when thou art athirst, go unto 
the vessels and drink of that which the young 
men have drawn." 

Then Ruth was moved by the compassion 
that was in the face of Boaz, and she fell on her 
face and bowed herself to the ground, and said 
tmto him : 

" Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that 
thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing 
I am a stranger? " 

And Boaz answered: 

" It hath been fully shown to me all the 
kindness and all the love that thou hast don« 
unto Naomi since the death of thine husband 
and how thou hast even left thy father and 
mother and the land of thy nativity and art 



2)tamatic StuMee from tbe JBlble 

come unto a people which thou knewest not 
heretofore. 

" The Lord recompense thy work and a full 
reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, 
under whose wings thou hast come to trust.'* 

And Ruth said: 

" Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for 
that thou hast comforted me and for that thou 
hast spoken friendly words unto thine handmaid, 
though I be not like unto one of thine own 
handmaidens." 

And Boaz looked upon Ruth with love in his 
heart. He took her hand and led her to the 
spreading olive-trees by the side of the field. 
And it was meal-time and the reapers were 
gathered together to eat and to drink. 

And Boaz placed Ruth beside him and he said : 

" Sit thou here and eat of this bread with me 
and dip thy morsel in the vinegar." 

And he reached her parched com to eat. 

And when she was risen up to glean again, 
Boaz commanded his young men, saying, 

" Let her glean even among the sheaves and 
reproach her not. And let fall also some of the 
handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them 
that she may glean them, and rebuke her 
not." 

And Boaz looked upon Ruth again and he 
loved her, and he said unto her: 

28 



l?utb: B pastoral l^igl 

" Farewell, then, for this time, but it shall be 
that I shall see thee again, for my heart hath 
truly turned toward thee." 

And Ruth was very beautiful as she stood 
among the sheaves of yellow com. And she 
bowed down again and kissed the hem of the 
long robe that Boaz wore. 

" I have not words, my lord, with which ta 
thank thee for thy gentleness. But I pray thy 
God of Israel, who is now my God also, that thy 
gracious words have brought imto me such 
exceeding peace and joy." 

And Boaz went away from the field, but as 
he came unto the green olive-trees by the side 
of the field, he looked back and saw Ruth still 
standing where he had left her. 



29 



A DAUGHTERS SACRIFICE. 

Scene i. The Vow of Jephthah. 
Scene 2. On Mount Gilead. 



SCENE I. 

tCbc Dow of Jepbtbab. 

ON the brown uplands of Gilead, a soldier 
was walking swiftly to the mountain vil- 
lage of Mizpah. His rough camel's-hair 
dress was bound about his waist by a leathern 
girdle. He wore the heavy armor of a captain 
of the host. Fierce, proud eyes and long, coarse 
hair showed him to be a son of Gilead. 

Suddenly he stopped, for a distant sound of 
music came to him. It grew more distinct, and 
around the bend of the mountain path, from 
among the green cedars and lofty oak-trees, 
there came a throng of Jewish maidens. In 
robes of white and yellow and scarlet they 
danced to meet him. Roses and lilies were 
twined in their dark hair. They danced in time 
to the music of tabrets and cymbals. They 
sang: 

We come to welcome thee, 
O Jephthah, thou mighty man of valor ! 
From the heights of Mizpah 
Have we watched for thy coming. 
Lo, even now, are thine armies in the valley below. 
We have heard of thy wondrous deeds 
That thou hast performed against the armies of 
Ammon. 

33 



jPramatlc StuMeg from tbe Xiblc 

Thou hast brought victory to the children of Israel. 
And we, the daughters of Gilead, 
Cast flowers at thy feet, 
And sing praises unto thee! 

The stem face of Jephthah softened into 
pleasure. But, as he looked, there darted out 
from the midst of the singing damsels a young 
maiden. Scarcely fifteen years old she seemed. 
Her robe was of pale blue. About her head 
was a garland of fresh flowers. She ran in joy 
to meet Jephthah. " Oh, my father! Jephthah, 
my father! " 

But as Jephthah stooped to take her in his 
arms, a sudden terror came upon him. He 
stood as one upon whom some plague has fallen. 
He rent his clothes and shrieked aloud in agony. 

And the merry damsels ceased to dance and to 
sing. And Mirah, the dark-eyed daughter of 
Jephthah, trembled in fear. 

" Oh, my father, what is it that hath come 
upon thee? Thou lookest as if thou saw death 
in the very face ! " 

Then he took Mirah's face between his two 
hands. 

" Woe is unto me, my daughter; just now I 
have remembered me of my vow that I vowed 
unto the Lord. When I went forth to fight 
against the children of Ammon, lo, I swore this 
oath to God : * If thou, Lord, shalt deliver the 

34 



B Dauflbter'g Sacrltlce 

Ammonites into mine hands, then it shall be 
that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of 
my house to meet me when I return, lo, that 
surely shall be the Lord's and I will offer it up for a 
burnt-offering.' Thus swore I to God; but, alas, 
I could not know that it would be thou, my best 
beloved, my only child, that would come forth 
to meet me! " 

He took the maiden in his arms. His tears 
fell upon her soft hair. 

" My daughter, my dear daughter Mirah, 
canst thou ever forgive me? Can God ever 
forgive me for my foolish, cruel vow? " 

Mirah drew herself from her father's embrace. 
She passed her hand over her eyes as though she 
awaked from dreaming. 

" Tell it to me again, dear father. I think 
my ears could not have heard aright. It cannot 
be that I must die — I, who am so young and 
glad a maid. Surely it was some jest of thine. 
It was an idle dream." 

"Would to God I had never seen this day! 
That thou, my only daughter, who art far more 
than life to me, that thou must shut thine eyes 
to all this living world ! " 

For some moments there was no sound save 
the whispering of the wind in the cedars of the 
forest and the groaning of Jephthah, captain of 
the host. 

35 



Dramatic StuOieg from tbe JBible 

The maidens held each other's hands, for they 
were sore afraid. 

And Mirah's slender body swayed. She would 
have fallen to the ground had not her damsels 
run to her and placed her tenderly on the grass. 

At last she rose to her feet, unsteadily. She 
placed her hands upon her forehead. She 
looked at Jephthah where he lay, his face upon 
the ground, and she went to him and gently 
touched him. " Arise, my father." 

And Jephthah took the mantle from his head 
and showed a face drawn and white with 
anguish. 

" I have been weak, my father. I did not 
understand. I was afraid to die. But now I 
see more clearly. It seems to me that God will 
make me brave. And am I not a soldier's 
daughter? Should not I share my father's spirit? 

" And this I know and cannot doubt — your 
vow to God is holy and surely must be paid." 

But Jephthah rent his clothes again and beat 
his breast in grief. 

" It shall not be paid. Never can so fair a lamb 
as thou be slain upon the altar. Sooner shall I 
forswear all vows to God in heaven! " 

" Nay, dear father, thou shalt keep thy vow. 
I shall pray to God and he will strengthen my 
feeble, trembling heart. But grant one boon 
before thou givest me to God." 

36 



B 2>augbter'g Sacrittce 

Mirah's eyes grew deep. She looked away 
to the mysterious, purple hills that loomed high 
above Mizpah. 

" Grant this, my father, that I may go away 
alone, save with my maidens here. Grant that 
two months may come and go before thou 
seest my face again. 

" And I will wander forth on Gilead's lordly 
mountains. I will lie at night beneath the 
jeweled stars that shine in soft, bright splendor. 
The cattle of the wilderness shall hear my eager 
prayers. 

" The eagles shall bend low to hear me, and 
my bed shall be among the laughing, tender 
flowers. 

" I shall bathe in the clear mountain brooks 
and see the sun come forth in golden light when 
morning dawns. In the shadows of the brood- 
ing oaks shall I find rest and comfort. 

" And perhaps I shall grow brave and strong 
and have no fear when the time shall come when 
I must die." 

And Jephthah said : " Thy wish is granted. 
Go and live among the silences of God until 
eight weeks have passed. The will of God be 
done.*' 



37 



SCENE II. 

®n flDount (Bilcat)* 

SEVERAL years later. A grave on a lonely 
hilltop on Mount Gilead. As evening fell 
over the trees and mountain flowers, a 
procession of Jewish maidens moved about the 
grave. 

They chanted slowly : 

We come once more, 
With quiet steps and slow. 

To show 
Our love for thee, 
Dear Mirah, who didst go 
The silent way of death before 

Thy time. 

We strew thy grave 

With flowers fair and sweet, 

To greet 
Thee now! Thy strange 
Sad story we repeat — 
Thy sacrifice when thou wast brave 

To die! 

And it was a custom in Israel that the maidens 
of Gilead came every year to lament Mirah, 
the daughter of Jephthah, for she died in her 
maidenhood, that her father might fulfill his 
vow to God. 

38 



ESTHER, THE QUEEN* 

Scene J» Pleading for Her People* 
Scene 2* At the Banquet Table* 



SCENE I. 

pleaMna for Iber people^ 

THE light was dim in the queen's private 
chamber of the great palace at Shushan. 
Before a low altar knelt the queen in a 
robe of black. Her maidens knelt about her, 
and all were in silent prayer. 

At last Queen Esther rose. She put back 
wearily the dark hair that fell about her face. 
Shadows were imder her eyes. Her face was 
very white. And the sweet-voiced Sivassah 
led the queen to a couch that was near at hand. 

" gentle queen, wilt thou not now par- 
take of food? Lo, these three days thou hast 
fasted, and for many hours knelt here in prayer. 
Our hearts are wrung with sadness. Can we 
do naught to ease thy grief? " 

" Nay, Sivassah, I know thy love and that 
of all my maidens. And I thank you all. But 
how can I be glad of heart when this so fearful 
fate must come to all the Jews? Thou knowest 
well the king's decree, that throxighout this 
land of Persia every Jew must die! " 

The queen leaned back her head upon the 
cushions of her couch and closed her eyes. 
And then she opened them again in sudden terror. 

" Oh, Sivassah, almost had I forgotten! To- 



Dramatic StuDteg from tbe JBtble 

night I go before the king as he sits in his 
audience chamber! And how can I go! 
Whosoever confronts the king without his bidding 
goes unto death! And for thirty days I have 
not known his smile ! " 

And as Queen Esther was speaking, lo, there 
was a whispering among her maidens as they 
stood by the hangings of the door. And through 
their midst came Hatach, the queen's chamber- 
lain. He bowed low before her. 

" Gracious and lovely queen, live forever! 
There waits without one Mordecai, a Jew, who 
begs an instant audience with thee." 

" Mordecai ! Conduct him hither." 

And there strode into the rich and softly 
lighted chamber a gaunt man, with keen, sad 
eyes. A rough mantle was over his shoulders. 
His face showed thin and pale. 

The queen turned in trembling haste unto her 
maidens. 

" Do ye withdraw for a little space. I would 
have a private audience with this man." 

And her handmaidens went quietly away. 
Then the queen fltmg herself down at the feet 
of Mordecai, crying: 

" Oh, how darest thou to come to me? The 
king hath turned his face from thee in sore 
displeasure ! Prince Haman is still thine enemy. 
I fear me for thy life ! " 

4« 



iBetbctf tbe (Rueen 

But Mordecai stooped down and gently lifted 
the young queen to her feet. Yet his face was 
grave. 

" Fear not for me, Esther. Of sterner things 
must we think this day than of my safety. 
Thou knowest well that through the evil coun- 
selings of Haman, the king hath signed and 
sealed this foul decree to slay all Jews. And I 
have come lest at the last thou shouldest shrink 
from doing that which must be done by thee. 
Didst thou receive my message of several days 
ago, that thou must plead for all of us before 
the king? " 

" Yea, Mordecai ; and I shall try to do thy 
will, even as in my childhood days when thou 
wast as a father to me. But thou dost not 
understand! It is sure death for the one who 
goes before the king without his word, unless 
he stretch forth his golden scepter. But I — I 
am no longer loved by him. If I go, I perish ! '* 

But Mordecai looked at her in silence. Into 
his eyes came a look of prophecy. 

" Yea, I know. It is at the risk of thy life 
that thou goest to-night before the king. But 
what is thine own death when the lives of 
millions of thy people are at stake? Canst 
thou not see their blood flowing through the 
streets — old, gray-haired men and little tender 
babes — all slaughtered in a night! 

43 



gramatlc StuMeg from tbe JBlble 

" I tell thee, Esther, thou art chosen from 
all the women of thy race to do this glorious 
deed and save God's chosen people. And if 
thy weakness overcome thee and thou goest not 
this night before the king, think not that thou 
shalt escape! Even though, up to this time, 
the king knows not that thou, also, art of the 
Jews, thou and thy father's house shall be 
destroyed if thou dost falter now! 

" And this last word I give thee. When the 
finger of God is pointing, dare not to turn thy 
face away! By all the vows that thou hast 
sworn to the God of Israel, fail us not, or the 
vengeance of God will be on thee forever! " 

And Mordecai was gone. 

And the queen called back her maidens to 
her. 

"Smooth ye my hair. And Sivassah, I 
pray thee, see that my jewels sparkle on me. 
For I go before the king! " 

And they smoothed her long, dark braids, and 
placed upon her a trailing robe of scarlet velvet. 
Jewels glistened on her neck and arms. And 
on her head rested a slender crown of gold. 

" Come thou with me, Sivassah, in thy robe 
of palest green. We two will go alone." 

Through the long corridor that led to the 
audience chamber they hurried. Three times 
the queen turned back, then went on again. 



ggtbert tbe (Slueen 

" Faster, still faster, Sivassah," she whis- 
pered, " or my courage faileth! " 

She clung to her maiden and she prayed: 

" God, my God, help thou thy child, for 
I am sore distressed. Let tender pity sink into 
the heart of the king. And, God, save thou 
my people ! " 

Now they stood by the door of the dazzling, 
lighted hall. They saw the king sitting in state 
upon his throne. About him was a brilliant, 
laughing throng of courtiers. But the words 
died on the lips of the Persian lords. The king 
looked up in angry wonder as the young queen 
walked tremblingly to the foot of the golden 
throne. Her hands were clasped together. 
A strange loveliness was on her face and in her 
deep, pleading eyes. 

The king leaned forward from his throne to 
look upon her. And lo, he looked again. He 
saw her white face uplifted to him, and her 
hands stretched out in prayer. And in the 
silence that was in all the hall, he held forth 
to Esther the golden scepter. 



45 



SCENE II. 

Ht tbe Banquet ZTaWe. 

IN the open court of the palace, amid the 
royal gardens, King Ahasuerus was feast- 
ing. The air was fragrant with the per- 
fume of roses and yellow jasmine. Lights 
glowed softly from golden lamps. All about the 
court were silken hangings of white and green 
and blue. 

At the king's left hand was Prince Haman, 
and on his right was Esther, the queen. And 
she was stately and beautiful, albeit her eyes 
were sad. But on Haman's face was a look of 
fear. 

The king put down the goblet from his lips 
and he turned to the queen. 

" Now once again I ask of thee thy request, 
Esther, my queen. It is two days now since 
thou didst appear all unannounced in the 
audience chamber. Thou didst not tell me then 
what was thy wish. Thou didst speak only to 
summon me and Haman here to dine with 
thee. And lo, this is the second time that we 
have come to the banquet at thy bidding. Let 
thy lips speak as well as thy dark eyes." 

And Esther answered : " Yea, my lord the 



2)ramatfc StuDieg from tbe JBlble 

king, before thou goest this night thou shalt 
know all. Only wait a little while, I pray thee.'* 

Then she looked toward Haman. " But tell 
me. Prince Haman, why is it that thy face shows 
not its wonted calm? Thou lookest as though 
some startling fear had come to thee. " 

" It is naught, queen, — a sudden chill." 

But the king smiled as he said: "Ah, yes, 
my queen, thou doest well to note his restless- 
ness. Ever since he knew this morning of the 
honor done to Mordecai, he has been as one 
confronted by some ghastly spectre ! " 

And Esther leaned forward in eagerness. 
"But Mordecai — an honor done to Mordecai! 
What meanest thou? " 

" How strangely stirred thou art, my queen! 
Hadst thou not heard? Last night I found 
'twas written in the records of my realm of a 
plot to kill me — the king! And lo, my cham- 
berlain did learn 'twas Mordecai, the Jew, who 
showed the plot and saved my life. And when 
I found that for his faithful service unto me no 
credit had been shown, I straightway gave 
command that he should ride upon the king's 
own horse and royal praise be made to him." 

" And has this been truly done to Mordecai, 
even as thou didst give command? " 

" Yea, my queen. And strange it was that 
when Prince Haman heard of Mordecai's brave 

48 



iSgtbet, tbe (Slueen 

deed and of the honor done him, a sudden rage 
transformed him. 

" But why, dear queen, art thou so moved? 
Thine eyes have never left my face. And now 
thou quiverest from head to foot! " 

And Esther slipped down from the couch on 
which she had been lying and she kneeled 
before the king. 

" mighty king, hear now thou thy queen's 
request. K any favor I have found before 
thee ever, hear thou my prayer! This Mordecai, 
the Jew, is my dear kinsman, for I, thy queen, 
am also of this hated Jewish race. 

" And we are sold, I and my people, to be 
slain upon the streets. 

" If only thou hadst sold us all as bond slaves, 
I had held my peace. But that our blood should 
flow — that I and all of us must die, gra- 
cious king, mighty king, show us thy mercy ! 
Save us from this death! " 

For an instant the king said no word. Then 
he leaped to his feet in anger. 

" Who has durst to plan so vile a thing? To 
slay thyself and all thy people! Some one has 
wrought deceit upon me. Who is the man? " 

" There, king, he standeth ! Because he 
hated Mordecai — yea, and feared him, too — 
he wrung from thee this foul decree — to slay 
the Jews. Thine enemy and mine is Haman ! " 



Bramatlc StuMeg trom tbe :fBible 

The king rose in anger from the banquet table. 

And Haman fell down at the feet of Esther. 
His face was ghastly for the terror that was on 
him. 

" queen, O gentle queen, forgive me for 
the wrong I did thee! If thou hast any pity, 
save me, save me ! " 

Then still greater wrath came upon the king. 
He called a chamberlain. 

" Cover thou the face of this man here, and 
carry him to his death. For in my sight he is 
dead already. And summon Mordecai before 
me." 

And Mordecai was brought into the banquet 
room. He stood tall and fearless before the 
king. Then he bowed down to the ground. 
But King Ahasuerus bade him rise. 

" Yea, Mordecai, all is now known to me. 
Haman, thine enemy, has gone to death. On 
thee my favor rests. 

" But since the decree of the Medes and Per- 
sians changeth not, a new decree I make. 
Thou mayest grant to all the Jews the means 
of defending them against their foes and thereby 
foil this evil plot. And thou shalt henceforth 
rule in Haman's stead and be ever at my right 
hand. And thou, Esther, my queen, thy prayer 
is heard ! " 

And they looked at Esther, who stood before 
50 



at tbe JSanguet gable 

them in her white silken robe. Exceeding glad- 
ness was upon her face. " great king, I 
know not how to thank thee! The God of 
Israel and of Persia forever bless thee! " 
And King Ahasuerus answered gently: 
" Throughout all Persia, yea, and in far dis- 
tant lands, shall this thy deed be known. Be- 
cause even at the risk of thine own life thou 
pleadest for thy people, there shall great honor 
fall upon thee always. And as for me, I love 
thee as I have never loved before, Esther, my 
queen! " 



.^a^ 



^p^ 



51 



PART 11. 

GLIMPSES OF 
FOUR GREAT HEBREWS. 



SCENES IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH* 

Scene i* Joseph and His Brethren. 

Scene 2* In Pharaoh^s Court* 

Scene 3* Before the Governor of Egypt. 



SCENE !• 

3o0epb an& Ibis ISretbren^ 

THE afternoon was passing away into the 
quietness of early evening. On the grassy 
fields of Dothan, beneath the shadowy 
mountains of Gilboa, some shepherds were 
sitting, watching their sheep. They wore rough 
mantles of sheepskin. Their staves and leathern 
scrips lay on the grass beside them. And they 
were men of stem, dark faces — all save one, 
whose eyes were kindly. 

As they were sitting there, lo, of a sudden, one 
of the men pointed his finger toward the south. 

" Look ye, Simeon and Reuben, and all my 
brethren, who is he that approacheth from the 
distance? " 

And the other shepherds looked also toward 
the south. And Reuben, who was older than 
the rest, and the one whose face was gentle, said 
at last: 

" Now that mine eyes do see more clearly, 
behold, I know who it is that cometh! It is 
Joseph, our young brother. Surely he beareth 
news to us from our aged father, Jacob! " 

And, lo, the lad did see the shepherds and ran 
toward them across the level plain. 

57 



2)ramattc StuDte0 ttom tbe JBible 

But Simeon's eyes blazed anger. He clenched 
his hands. 

" Ah, behold the dreamer cometh ! That 
Joseph whom our father loves as never he loved 
us! Thou knowest of the coat of many colors 
that he gave him. I hate him for his simple 
heart. I hate him for his smiles and for his 
foolish visions, that point too clearly to the day 
when he shall rule, a mighty leader, and we, his 
older brethren, must bow before him ! Oh, I 
could kill the lad!" 

And Judah echoed Simeon's words. Exceed- 
ing harshness was in his voice. 

" Yea, I also gladly would see him dead! " 

And then he bent down his head and whis- 
pered. 

" And now — what hindereth now from killing 
him? " 

He pointed toward the lad, who was still run- 
ning toward them over the grassy meadows, 
with eagerness upon his face. They could see 
now his long tunic, with its woven colors of 
yellow and red and blue. 

But Reuben rose in anger. 

" Ye mad men and ye cruel ones, to plot the 
death of this young, guileless lad ! What has he 
ever done to you of harm? His only crime is 
that our father loves him! " 

But Simeon's face was hard. 
58 



Scenes In tbe %itc ot Sosepb 



a 



You! You have always stood upon his side 
and basely bowed your head before him ! We'll 
have none of you. And we will kill the boy! 
Lo, we will slay him and throw him in the pit 
near by, and say a wild beast slew him! " 

And the others answered, " Yea, we will rid 
ourselves forever of the dreamer." 

But Reuben pleaded with them again. And 
he said : 

" But, at least, let not his blood be on our 
heads ! Why not rather place him in the empty 
pit and leave him there to perish? " 

For in his heart he thought that when the 
night had brought the darkness, he might creep 
up and save the boy. And his brethren nodded 
their assent to Reuben's plan. And Judas said: 

" Yea, it were better that his blood be not 
upon our heads. But he shall surely die ! " 

And now the lad was come to them. His 
brown hair hung down along his shoulders. His 
eyes were bright with joy. 

" Oh, now, at last, have I found you all, my 
brethren! And long has been the journey! For 
I did not always know the way! I bear you 
tidings of our father's love and wishes for your 
welfare! " 

But suddenly the lad's voice faltered. He 
stood still where he was and looked with pain 
and fear into the shepherds' faces. 

59 



dramatic StuMeg from tbe JBlble 

" But you — you are not glad to see me. I 
know not what you mean! Your eyes do bum 
me as when I told you of my dreams, these many 
weeks ago. I am afraid! " 

And in sorrow Reuben looked at him. 

" Fear not, my lad. Fear not." 

But Judah said : 

" He well may fear. Come, now, we'll have 
an end of patience. Seize the lad! " 

And Simeon and the others laid their hands on 
Joseph and they stripped him of his long tunic 
of many colors, and they bound him with cords 
so that he could not move. And then they low- 
ered him into the deep pit. 

And Joseph cried out in his terror, 

" Oh, and are there none to show me pity? 
What have I done to harden so your hearts, my 
brethren? I have never had a thought ungentle 
toward you! " 

And Simeon said : 

" Let us leave him. His words are empty." 

But the lad's cries followed them as they left 
the pit. 

And Reuben ran back to the pit. 

" Oh, dear lad, I sought to keep them from 
this crime! But do thou have patience. I still 
may help thee." 

And Reuben went away from the rest into 
another part of the fields. But the other brethren 

60 



Sceneg In tbe %itc ot 5ogepb 

sat down to eat. And ever and again came to 
their ears the piteous crying of their brother 
Joseph. And Simeon said: 

" Shall we never cease to hear him? It were 
better to kill him with the knife than to hear 
this wail forever! But look yonder, against the 
mountains there ! Behold, a caravan draws near 
along the beaten road. Methinks it is a mer- 
chant train come here from Gilead and going 
down to Egypt." 

And they watched the long line of white 
camels, laden with merchandise. Then Judah 
cried: 

" Lo, a sudden thought has come to me ! Let 
us now sell the boy unto these merchant-men! 
For he is our brother and our flesh. We may 
not slay him without wrong." 

And his brethren were content. And Simeon 
went unto the pit. He reached down and drew 
up the boy. And Joseph was trembling with 
fear and weariness. They loosed his bonds, and 
carried him unto the merchants. 

And Judah said unto them: 

" Behold, here is a youth that we would sell 
to you! Will ye buy him at our hands? " 

And the merchants looked upon the lad. His 
face was white. He could scarcely stand upon 
his feet. And the chief of the merchants 
answered : 

6i 



gramatic StuDteg from tbe astble 

" Yea, we will take him and sell him in Egypt 
unto Pharaoh's household. For the lad is 
comely and of a fair countenance.'' 

And they paid unto Judah and the others 
twenty shekels of silver. And they took the 
lad and placed him on one of the camels. And 
Joseph looked back in sadness. Tears were no 
longer in his eyes. 

" Farewell, my brethren. I think I am no 
more only a timid lad. Grief and the fear of 
death have made me understand a little. I never 
thought you hated me like this. For always 
I have tried to serve you as a younger brother 
needs should do. 

" And now I go — I know not where ! It may 
be that our father's God will show his face to 
me in love. No longer seek I mercy at your 
hands! Some time I think you will be sorry. 
And may God help you then! " 

And the white camels moved away through 
the darkness. 

And, lo, then it was that Reuben returned 
unto the pit, and he leaned over, saying softly, 

" Joseph, Joseph, I have come for thee! " 

But no answer came to him. In fear he 
reached down into the pit. And then he knew 
that the lad was gone ! He rent his clothes and 
he ran unto his brethren and he cried : 

" The child is not! And I — whither shall I 

go? What shall I tell our father Jacob? " 

62 



Sceneg in tbe %itc ot 5o6epb 

And Judah and his brethren looked at one 
another. And Judah said : 

" Lo, we have sold him unto merchants who 
bear him into Egypt. And as for our father 
Jacob, behold we have dipped the many-colored 
coat in the blood of a kid, and he will think some 
evil beast has killed the boy." 

And Simeon looked away into the darkness 
and said to himself: 

" Yea, we did sell the lad for twenty shekels 
— for twenty shekels! But his voice we did 
not sell ! Nor his eyes that still look into mine 
with sternness. It seems to me that I shall 
always see that face — always until I die! " 

And the others shivered at his words as though 
a cold wind had touched them, and they turned 
away their eyes. 



63 



SCENE II. 

Hn pbaraob'0 Court. 

IN Pharaoh's audience hall the lords and court- 
iers stood in fear. For the great Egyptian 
king was troubled in his heart. He noticed 
not the quaking of the black slaves near the 
throne, nor did he heed the whispering 'mongst 
the women of the court, nor the wondering face 
of Asenath, the soft-eyed daughter of the priest 
of On. He looked with frowning eyes upon five 
men who stood before him, trembling. They 
were very old, with withered faces, and white 
beards falling upon their black velvet robes, and 
they carried scrolls of parchment in their hands. 

And Pharaoh spoke in wrath : 

" And do ye dare to say this thing to me — ye 
who are deemed the wisest of all the magicians 
in Egypt — that ye cannot interpret to me my 
dream? " 

And the king was angry and very furious, and 
he said unto the officers of the guard who stood 
beside him: 

" Take forth these wise men and astrologers. 
Bind them and throw them into prison." 

And lo, as they were led forth in haste from 
the presence of the king, Pharaoh's chief butler 

6s 



5)ramatic StuMeg from tbe JBlble 

drew near to the high throne. He bowed to the 
ground before the king, and he said : 

" great Pharaoh, mightiest of all the kings 
of Egypt, hear now thy servant. For, of a truth, 
I know of one who can interpret to thee thy 
dream. 

" Once when Pharaoh was wroth with his serv- 
ants, he did put me in prison — both me and 
the chief baker. And we dreamed a dream in 
one night, I and he. And there was with us 
also in the prison a young man, a Hebrew, who 
was called Joseph. And we told him, and lo, 
he interpreted to us our dream. And it came to 
pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was. Me he 
restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 
And lo, I did forget him even until now! " 

Then Pharaoh said in haste, 

" Bring this Hebrew from the dungeon." 

And the captains of the guard brought Joseph 
before the king. And he was exceeding thin 
and white, and he put his hands before his eyes 
as if to shield them from the light that was in 
the hall. But even though great weakness was 
on him, he stood before the king with dignity and 
peace upon his face. And the Egyptian lords 
and all the fair women of the court looked upon 
him and wondered as they looked. 

And Pharaoh said : 

" I have dreamed a dream, and there is none 

66 



Sceneg In tbe %itc ot 5ogepb 

that can interpret it. And lo, I have just now 
heard of thee, that thou canst understand a 
dream, to show the meaning thereof." 

And Joseph looked steadily at Pharaoh as he 
sat, with troubled eyes, in his royal robes, with 
the pointed, golden crown upon his head. And 
he answered : 

" It is not in me, king! But it may be that 
God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. Do 
thou show to me thy dream." 

And Pharaoh said : " Lo, this is my dream. 
Behold, I stood upon the bank of a river. And 
there came up out of the river seven kine, fat- 
fleshed and well-favored. And seven other kine 
came up after them, poor and very ill-favored. 
And lo, the lean kine did eat up the seven fat 
kine. So I awoke. 

" And I saw in my dream again, and behold, 
seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good. 
And behold, seven ears, withered and blasted, 
sprang up after them. And the thin ears de- 
voured the seven good ears. And lo, I did tell 
this unto the magicians, but there was none that 
could declare it to me." 

And Joseph stood in silence for a moment. 
And no one moved or whispered. Then he 
spoke. 

" The dream is one. God hath showed Pha- 
raoh what he is about to do. The seven good 

67 



5)ramattc StuMeg from tbe 3B(ble 

kine are seven years, and the seven good ears 
are seven years. The dream is one. And the 
seven thin kine and the seven empty years shall 
be seven years of famine. This is the thing 
which I have spoken. What God is about to do 
he showeth unto Pharaoh. 

" Behold, there come seven years of great 
plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And 
there shall arise after them seven years of famine. 
And all the plenty shall be forgotten, for the 
famine shall consume the land. 

" Now, therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man, 
discreet and wise, and set him over the land of 
Egypt. And let him gather all the food of those 
good years and lay up corn under the hand of 
Pharaoh, against the famine that shall be in the 
land of Egypt. Lo, this is the interpretation 
of thy dream, Pharaoh! God hath spoken 
through me, his servant." 

And all who were in the hall were astonished 
at the wisdom of the Hebrew captive. And the 
soft-eyed Asenath drew aside her silken veil that 
she might the better see his face. And Pharaoh's 
eyes were troubled no longer. He said in joy unto 
the Egyptian lords who stood at his right hand, 

" Where can we find such an one as this is 
— a man in whom rests the spirit of God? " 

And Pharaoh looked upon Joseph standing 
quietly before the throne. And he said : 

68 



Sceneg in tbe %itc ot 5ogepb 

" Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, 
there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. 
Lo, thou shalt be over my house, and according 
unto thy word shall all my people be ruled — 
only on the throne will I be greater than thou. 
See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." 

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand 
and put it upon Joseph's hand, and he arrayed 
him in vestures of fine linen, and he put a golden 
chain about his neck. 

And Joseph bowed the knee before the king, 
and he said : 

" A wondrous thing is this, that I, a Hebrew 
slave, should receive such honor at thy hands. 
The God of my fathers give me strength that I 
may never fail in faithfulness to thee! " 

And Pharaoh looked upon Joseph with exceed- 
ing kindness. And he said : 

" I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no 
man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of 
Egypt. And still another honor I show thee now." 

And he turned unto the beautiful, dark-haired 
maidens who were standing there in their flash- 
ing jewels and silken robes. And he called unto 
Asenath, the loveliest of them all. And she 
came with shyness before the king. Her soft 
eyes were cast down, and her dark braids hung 
low over her robe of orange silk. And Pharaoh 
said unto Joseph: 

69 



2)ramatlc StuMeg from tbe JBtble 

" Lo, I give to thee for thy wife, Asenath, the 
daughter of the Priest of On. For thou hast 
found much favor in my sight." 

And Asenath looked up at Joseph with a smile 
in her eyes. And from that hour Joseph loved 
Asenath. 

And he went out in honor from the presence of 
the king. 



70 



SCENE III. 

Before tbe (Bovernor of J£QWt. 

JOSEPH, the governor of Egjrpt, sat upon 
his gilded chair and looked with impatient 
eyes toward the marble columns by the door. 
And as he looked and listened, there came the 
sound of swiftly running feet, and Aamnah, 
the steward of Joseph's house, passed through the 
throng of officers and servants in the hall and 
bowed the knee before the governor. Dust was 
on his robe of green embroidered velvet. His 
breathing showed his haste. And Joseph said, 

" And didst thou do my wiU, Aamnah, my 
steward? " 

"Yea, my lord; I did overtake the Hebrew 
shepherds, as thou didst bid. And I did accuse them 
of having stolen thy silver goblet. And lo, it was 
found with them. I have run back with speed to 
tell thee. Even now they stand without, in terror.'* 

" Bring them before me." 

And eleven men in the raiment of shepherds 
came with fear into the sculptured hall. Their 
swarthy faces were burnt by the sun and the 
wind. And one of them was a slender lad in a 
dark blue tunic. And he was hardly more than 
twenty years of age. 



gtamattc StuDteg ttom tbe JBtble 

And Joseph put sternness into his eyes and 
into his voice, and he spake unto them through 
his Hebrew interpreter, for they knew not that 
the governor of Egypt understood the Hebrew 
tongue. 

" What deed is this that ye have done? Be- 
hold, ye came down into Egypt again the second 
time to buy food, in these years of famine. And 
lo, I had sent you back again unto your father, 
Jacob, with much com in your sacks. Where- 
fore should ye steal my silver cup? " 

And they spake among themselves with 
frightened faces. And Simeon said unto the 
others : 

" None of us did steal that cup! Some strange 
mistake did put it in our brother Benjamin's 
sack. I fear — I know not what — of evil. 
Somehow, the face of our brother Joseph is 
before me. God ! shall all my grieving never 
wash away that sin? For we did see the an- 
guish of our brother's soul when he besought 
us and we would not hear! " 

And Reuben said: 

" Spake I not unto you then, saying, * Do not 
sin against the child,' and ye would not listen? 
Behold, his blood is now required! " 

But Judah pressed before the others and he 
said unto the interpreter : 

" What shall we say unto my lord? What 
72 



Sceneg in tbe %itc of 3ogepb 

shall we speak? And yet I swear unto thee that 
we be honest men, and stole not thy silver cup." 

And Joseph said: 

" God forbid that I should make you all my 
bondmen. But the man in whose hand the 
cup is, he shall be my servant. And as for the 
others, go ye in peace unto your father. But 
who is the man with whom the cup was found?" 

And he who was the youngest of them all — 
whose name was Benjamin — came near. Shame 
and anguish were in his eyes. He bowed low 
before the governor, who sat, with unmoved 
face, in his robes of purple and fine linen, beneath 
the canopy of yellow silk. And he said: 

" great lord under Pharaoh, behold, it 
was I with whom the cup was found! But yet 
— I cannot understand — why it should come 
within my sack. For surely I did not do this 
wrong! great lord, have mercy on me! " 

And when Joseph saw the quivering lips of 
Benjamin, and the beauty of his face, he could 
not look upon him. And the black-bearded 
shepherd, Judah, put his arm about the lad to 
comfort him, and then he kneeled before the 
governor and said: 

" Oh, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a 
word in my lord's ears ! And let not thine anger 
bum against me ! When we did first come down 
to Egypt my lord asked, saying, * Have ye a 



dramatic StuDieg from tbe JBible 

father or a brother? ' And we said, ' We have 
a father, an old man, and a child of his old 
age — a little one, and his brother is dead — 
and he alone is left of his mother Rachel; and 
his father loveth him.' 

" And my lord did say unto us, * Bring down 
the lad to me that I may set mine eyes upon him. 
Except he come down with you, ye shall see my 
face no more.' 

" And it came to pass that when we returned 
we told our father these things. And he said: 
* Ye know that Rachel, my wife, bare me two 
sons — and Joseph is torn in pieces. And if ye 
take this lad also and mischief befall him, ye 
shall bring down my gray hair with sorrow to 
the grave.' And I, Judah, became surety for 
the lad unto my father, saying, ^ If I bring him 
not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame for- 
ever! ' Now, therefore, I pray — on my knees 
I pray — let me abide a bondman, but let the 
lad go back unto his brethren, unto his father, 
Jacob ! For how can I go up to my father, and 
the lad be not with me? Lo, I will serve thee 
all my life if only thou lettest the lad go free ! " 

And Judah stretched forth his arms unto 
Joseph, and then he fell down at his feet. 

And Joseph could restrain himself no longer. 
He cried, 

" Cause every man to go out from me." 



Sceneg in tbe %itc of 5ogepb 

And the stewards of his house and all the 
servants passed out between the great carved 
pillars. And Joseph and the Hebrew shepherds 
were alone. And Joseph covered his face with 
his hands, and he wept aloud, so that all the 
Egyptians that were without heard the sound of 
his weeping. And he stepped down from the 
high place where he had been sitting and he 
cried: 

" My brethren ! Lo, I am Joseph ! Doth 
my father yet live? " 

And his brethren could not answer him. But 
they all fell down to the ground before him. 
And Joseph said with gentleness: 

" Fear not, my brethren. Come near to me, 
I pray you." 

And they rose to their feet and groped toward 
him like blind men. And Joseph said again: 

" I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold 
into Egypt." 

And when Simeon heard these words, he rent 
his clothes and he fell down, crying: 

" Ah, yes, my brethren ; said I not unto you 
that full vengeance would come upon us? Both 
night and day I have not failed to see our brother 
Joseph's face and hear his cries in all these 
years since we did act as ravenous beasts toward 
him. The wrath of God is on us now ! Joseph, 
take thy vengeance. I, of us all, did have the 

7S 



Dramatic Stu&leg from tbe JBtble 

heart most hard toward thee. Slay me! I 
deserve it at thy hands." 

But Joseph lifted Simeon to his feet. A 
tender light was in his eyes. 

" Nay, Simeon, I did long ago forgive you all. 
And be not grieved nor angry with yourselves 
that ye sold me hither. For it was God that 
sent me here that I might preserve your lives. 
And he hath made me lord over Pharaoh's house 
and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 
Haste ye, and go up to my father and bring him 
down to me. And ye shall all dwell in the land of 
Goshen and be near unto me. And there will 
I nourish thee. And, behold, your eyes see and 
the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my 
mouth that speaketh unto you. And I did 
have my silver cup put in Benjamin's sack, and 
I did treat you harshly, only that I might try 
your hearts. But now my joy is great, my 
brethren." 

He held out his arms unto Benjamin, and he 
fell upon the lad's neck and wept. And Joseph 
kissed Benjamin. And he kissed all his breth- 
ren and wept upon them. But when he came 
to Simeon, lo, Simeon kneeled down before 
Joseph, and he kissed the sandals of Joseph's feet, 
and he cried in wonder : 

" And dost thou forgive me? Oh, my brother 
Joseph, know I at last the forgiving love of God 
himself! " 

76 



MOSES, THE MAN OF GOD. 

Scene i* The Song of Victory* 
Scene 2* The FarewelL 



SCENE I. 

Zbc Song of Dictor^* 

AVAST multitude were crowded together 
along the shore of the Red Sea. High 
mountains towered behind them, and the 
blackness of midnight covered them round about. 
And every man and woman was listening in 
terror to a distant sound of trampling feet. 

And exceeding fear fell upon them all. 

" Behold, it is the host of Pharaoh that is 
following close after us ! '* 

" Yea, and he will drive us back again to our 
taskmasters in Egypt! Or else he will slay us 
in the desert here ! " 

Men shrieked aloud. Women clasped their 
children in their arms. Sounds of alarm came 
from the cattle and beasts of burden. 

Still nearer and nearer came the tramp of 
horses* hoofs. 

Then from one to another went the cry : 

" Moses! Moses! where is he? Let him answer 
for this now! Because there were no graves in 
Egypt, did he take us away to die in the wilder- 
ness? Wherefore hath he dealt thus with us? 
For it had been better for us to serve the Egyp- 
tians than that we should perish here ! " 



Dramatic StuMeg trom tbe astble 

But lo, out of the mad, wild tumult, a sudden 
silence came. And then a murmur spread from 
man to man, 

" Moses! Moses! " 

And a flaming pillar of fire gleamed forth 
from the darkness and shone upon the waters 
of the sea. And in the strange, red glow of the 
cloud of fire a tall man appeared. He stood 
straight and stately, with a dark robe about him. 
A long rod was in his hand. In his eyes was a 
look that thrilled them through. And beside 
Moses, looking tenderly upon him, stood his 
queenly sister, Miriam, the prophetess. 

And Moses stretched forth his hands over all 
the weeping, frightened people. And he said : 

" Fear ye not ! Stand still, and see the sal- 
vation of the Lord, which he will show to you 
this day. For the Egyptians whom ye have 
seen, ye shall see them again no more for ever! 
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold 
your peace ! " 

Then while silence still held the people breath- 
less, Moses lifted his eyes unto heaven, and said : 

" O God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, 
help us in this our need. For we are sore com- 
passed by our enemies, the Egyptians! Even 
now they are upon us. Save thy people Israel ! " 

And a voice came unto Moses saying : 

" Lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine 
80 



itsoec6f tbe Hbnn of (3od 

hand over the sea, and divide it: and the chil- 
dren of Israel shall go on dry ground through 
the midst of the sea. And the Egyptians shall 
know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten me 
honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and 
upon all his horsemen! " 

And when the voice had ceased, the people 
fell in fear upon the groimd. And the pillar of 
fire went behind them and showed before their 
eyes the pathless waves of the Red Sea. 

And Moses stood upon the shore, and he 
stretched forth his hands over the sea, and he 
prayed, 

" What thou hast declared, do thou perform, 
God!" 

And lo, as he spoke, there came a mighty 
wind out of the east. It swept across the sea, 
so that a great path showed before them, reach- 
ing even unto the other side! 

And Moses shouted with a great shout : 

"The Lord hath laid bare his holy arm! 
Come ye across, ye children of Israel! For ye 
are saved this day!" 

And there arose a great tumult. And all the 
men and women and children fled in haste over 
the path that was between the waters. And lo, 
close behind them came Pharaoh's horses, and 
his brazen chariots, and his host of warriors. 

And now, at last, the children of Israel had 

8i 



dramatic StuDleg from tbe 3Btble 

reached the further shore. And the host of the 
Egyptians were shouting in triumph in the very 
midst of the waves. 

And a voice came unto Moses again the 
second time, saying : 

** Stretch out thine hands over the sea, that the 
waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon 
their chariots, and upon their horsemen." 

And when Moses saw that the host of the 
Israelites had passed through the sea, he held 
forth his hand over the waters. 

And behold, as every man and every woman 
looked back in speechless wonder, there fell upon 
all the Egyptian army a furious storm of wind and 
rain ! Lightning flashed down from the heavens, 
and a great earthquake shook the land! And 
the sea came again to his strength. And the 
waters returned and covered the glittering horse- 
men and the splendid chariots — and all the 
host of Pharaoh was buried in the midst of the 
sea! 

And the Israelites bowed themselves down in 
awe and worship : "0 God the Lord, we fear 
before thee. Forever will we praise thee ! " 

And Moses stood in the midst of his people, 
and a solemn joy was upon his face. 

" Let us thank the Lord for this, our great 
deliverance from our foes. Let us sing unto his 
holy name! " 

82 



lfb06CB, tbe ^an of 6oD 

And he called together all the musicians, with 
their cymbals and their comets and their silver 
trumpets. And as they came together at his 
word, lo, Miriam, the sister of Moses, drew near. 
Her white garments fell even to her feet. Her 
eyes were strangely deep, so that all men feared 
before them. Her black hair flowed along her 
back. And when she spoke, her voice was 
beautiful as the music of the waves when they 
glide upon the shores of the Great Sea. 

" And we, too, Moses, we who are the women 
of Israel, we will sing with you before the Lord, 
to praise him for his wondrous works! " 

And then the women loosened their dark hair. 
They gathered their robes about them, and they 
took their timbrels in their hands, and they 
danced and sang, 

" Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea ! " 

And the musicians answered them and they 
sang together the song of Moses : 

" The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become 
my salvation : 
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation. 
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the 

sea: 
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: 
83 



2)tamat(c StuOteg from tbe JBlbtc 

Thy right hand, Lord, hath dashed in pieces the 

enemy. 
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? 
Who is Uke thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in 

praises, doing wonders? 
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever ! " 

And then Miriam and the other women danced 
again and sang, 

" Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; 
The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea ! " 

And when the song was finished, lo, the 
darkness passed away, and the sun came forth, 
and shone down in splendor upon the throng of 
men and women and little wondering children 
who kneeled in praise by the shores of the restless 
sea. And the queenly Miriam drew near once 
more unto her brother Moses, and with joy he 
looked into her deep eyes, — and then he held 
forth his hand in blessing over all the kneeling 
people. 



84 



SCENE 11. 

^be farewell of flDoses^ 

THE morning sunshine was bathing in yellow 
light the green valley of Moab. It fell 
softly upon the rocky sides of Mount Nebo, 
rising steep and gray above the plain. Thou- 
sands of white tents glistening among the palm- 
trees marked the encampment of the Israelites. 
On the left rolled down the sparkling Jordan 
River to meet the waters of the Dead Sea. 
Across the flowery meadows some distance to the 
south the Amon flowed, while around and 
above were the pine-covered mountains of 
Abarim. 

Stretched along the soft grass at the foot of 
Mount Nebo was a great multitude of men and 
women looking reverently into the face of a man, 
old, white-haired, yet still erect and majestic, — 
Moses, who had led his people through the burn- 
ing desert for nearly forty years. To-day his 
wanderings were at an end. He had gathered 
Israel together for the last time. In silence 
they listened as slowly came the grand words of 
his oration: 

" And now, Israel, hearken unto the statutes 
and unto the judgments which I teach you, for 

85 



Dramatic StuMea from tbe JSlble 

to do them, that ye may live and go in and 
possess the land which the Lord, the God of 
your fathers, giveth you. 

" For what great nation is there that hath a 
god so nigh unto them as the Lord our God is, 
whenever we call upon him? 

" Only take heed to thyself lest thou forget 
the things thine eyes saw, and lest they depart 
from thy heart all the days of thy life. Know 
therefore this day and lay it to thine heart that 
the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon 
the earth beneath. There is none else." 

Hour after hour these men of Israel sat under 
the cloudless skies and listened while Moses 
spoke of the land beyond the Jordan which they 
were to possess, — all the glowing country of 
stately rivers and fair meadows, — the promised 
land, flowing with milk and honey. But he 
who had led his people to the borderland could 
not enter. For him the gates were shut. 

And now of a sudden the theme of his oration 
changed. The patriarch burst into an exalted 
song. 

" Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; 
And let the earth hear the words of my song ! 

** My speech shall distil as the dew; 
As the small rain upon the tender grass. 

** For I will proclaim the name of the Lord: 
Ascribe ye greatness unto our God." 

86 



ObOBCBf tbe ISSnrx ot (go& 

Then at last the solemn address was ended. 
The people waited while the man of God walked 
slowly through their midst. The heads of the 
tribes pressed near to receive his sacred bene- 
diction. 

" Peace be unto thee and thy little ones for- 
ever," and he gently placed his hands upon 
their heads. Then stretching forth his arms 
above them all, he said, 

" There is none like unto God, 
Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help, 
And in his excellency on the skies. 
The eternal God is thy dwelling place, 
And underneath are the everlasting arms." 

The blue shadows lengthened on the moun- 
tains of Abarim. The red sun began to sink 
down beyond the Jordan. Moses lifted up his 
hands in his last prayer : 

" Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all gen- 
erations. 
Before the mountains were brought forth. 
Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world. 
Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 
For a thousand years in thy sight 
Are but as yesterday when it is past. 
And as a watch in the night. 
Let thy work appear unto thy servants. 
And thy glory upon their children. 
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us." 
87 



Dramatic StuDteg from tbe JBtble 

Deeper grew the shadows. In reverence they 
watched their leader as he gathered his long 
robe about him and in quiet calm left the valley. 
All alone he ascended Mount Nebo. From rock 
to rock he climbed until he reached the lofty 
summit of Pisgah. 

All Canaan lay before him — the land he 
might see with his eyes but never enter. 

Beneath his feet the land of Gilead stretched 
away to the far north. He could see in the dim 
distance the snowy peaks of Lebanon. On one 
side the wide plains of Moab faded away into the 
barren wastes of the Egyptian desert, while 
across the fertile fields and tossing com of Judah 
his eyes rested at last upon the blue waters of 
the Great Sea. 

Long he stood there, looking wistfully into 
the distance. At length he turned away from 
the loveliness of Canaan and entered upon his 
lonely, mystic journey. For there, under the 
evening skies of Moab, on the bare summit of the 
silent mountain, this man, who had seen God 
face to face, was borne away into the xmseen 
world, and no one knew when it was that God 
took him, and no one saw his grave. 



IN THE TEMPLE OF DAGON. 



Hn tbe ZTemplc of Dagon* 

THE sacrificing and revelry in the great 
temple of Dagon suddenly ceased. The 
worshippers rose to their feet as a long 
procession swept into the amphitheater and 
took its place before the great golden statue of 
Dagon, the Fish God. 

But the people paid scant attention to the 
scarlet-robed musicians who led the way with 
their fifes and clanging cymbals; nor to the 
glittering line of archers and bowmen and 
mighty men of war. Every eye was upon the 
central figure of the procession — a man of huge 
stature, in a ragged tunic, with bare, bleeding 
feet. Fetters of brass bound his arms. His head, 
covered by a mass of long, tmkempt hair, was 
bowed upon his breast, while great cavernous 
eyes that saw nothing stared out from imder 
shaggy brows. Again and again the people 
shouted, 

" It is the blind Samson, the fallen hero of 
Israel ! 

" Forsooth he has come to furnish us good 
sport on this, our festive day! " 

While the captive stood silent in the midst of 
his guard, a hymn of victory reverberated through 
the temple, sung by a chorus of a hundred voices, 

91 



2)ramatlc StuMee from tbe Miblc 

" Praise be unto Dagon, our God, who hath given us the 
victory ! 

The standard of Israel hath been brought low, it hath 
been trampled in the dust. 

Praise be unto Dagon that the mighty Samson, the 
prince of Israel, hath been abased. 

No longer doth the host of the Philistines tremble be- 
fore the arms of their enemies. 

Shame hath come upon Samson. Shame hath come 
upon Jehovah, the God of Israel! Dagon is the 
true god, and we worship before him! " 

The chief lord of the city drew near to Samson. 
" We have sent for thee, thou dog of an Israelite, 
because our hearts are merry within us this day. 
We have sent that thou mayest show before us 
thy boasted feats of skill." 

And Samson answered: 

" Thou knowest well that thou mayest do 
with me what thou wilt. I am but a wretched 
prisoner in thy hands, to grind thy meal if thou 
dost command, or to be a jest unto thee and thy 
fellows. My once proud spirit is broken! " 

Now the arena was made ready. The bonds 

of brass were removed from Samson and he was 

led near to the high pillars that supported the 

flat roof on which were sitting three thousand 

Philistine nobles in their holiday raiment of 

bright-colored tunics and embroidered robes. 

One task after another was imposed upon the 

captive. Since his strength was still beyond 

92 



irn tbe XTempIe of Bagon 

that of any other man, he brake with ease iron 
cables, he lifted great weights, he carried on his 
shoulder a towering bullock. Still the people, 
mad with excitement, demanded more and more. 

At last Samson turned to the little lad who was 
his guide : " Lead me, I pray thee, child, closer 
to the great pillars that are beneath the roof, 
that I may rest me there, for I am over weary." 

And the boy led him to the pillars. 

And it came to pass that a strange, new look 
came upon the face of Samson. His head no 
longer hung in shame upon his breast. He 
stood straight in his place and he put forth his 
hand and caused silence to come to all the 
Philistines. 

Then he spake : " Ye Philistines, hear now the 
words that I utter. I have come here at your 
command, and ye will bear witness that I have 
obeyed you well. I have made laughter for you 
and for your women and children. I have 
borne with patience the scorn and insults that 
ye have sent upon me like poisonous javelins, 
for I am your captive. 

" Ah, too well I know that I have deserved 
that which has come, for I held in light esteem 
the sacred gift of the Most High — I who might 
have redeemed my people Israel! 

" But I have drunk to the dregs the cup of 
bitter sorrow. You have taken full pimishment 

93 



5)ramattc StuMeg from tbe JBlble 

upon me. With your red-hot coals you have 
put out my eyes, so that never again may I look 
upon the glad sunshine nor the green grass of 
the meadows nor the blue sky over my head. I 
have grotmd your meal for you. I have done 
the most degrading labor. No disgrace has 
been too mean for me, no insult too debasing. 
And now I ask of you, ye Philistine lords, one 
favor. Let me who have done all things at your 
will, show one thing of myself." 

" What is it that the slave purposes in his 
heart? " said the chief lord of the city to him 
who sat at his side. " Shall we grant his 
request? " 

" Yea, for he can do naught, blind as he is. 
Let us see what the fool will do ! " 

" Go thou on, then, Samson, thou beast of a 
race of beasts! We wait to see thy sport." 

Then Samson turned his sightless eyes toward 
the heavens and he prayed, " thou everlast- 
ing God, hear me as I make this prayer! Lord, 
thou hast known me from the beginning. Thou 
gavest me the glorious power by which I slew 
the lions and brake in pieces thine enemies. 
Yea, even by the thousands lay they in the 
plains of Lehi. Thou anointedst me as judge 
over thy people Israel, and I exulted in my 
strength. most high God, thou knowest that 
I kept not the great gift intrusted unto me. I 

94 



•ffn tbe tiemple of Dagon 

treasured it not as a sacred thing; I betrayed 
it into the hands of a wicked Philistine woman. 

" Yet I make this last prayer. Grant that the 
strength that has come back with the growth of 
my hair may be fully shown this day. God 
of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, strengthen 
thou the sinews of my arms! Grant that thy 
might and thy glory may be made manifest unto 
all the world, and that this day thy favor may 
fall again upon thy chosen people Israel! '* 

Then Samson took hold of the two great 
marble pillars that were under the vast roof on 
which sat the thousands of feasting, taimting 
Philistines. And power thrilled into him, and 
still more power. He grasped the mighty col- 
umns, and pulled with a strength beyond mortal 
strength. And lo, the pillars of the temple were 
torn asunder! And the great roof fell down 
upon all the Philistines with a thunderous crash 
like the roaring of a tumultuous sea! 



95 



THE VOICE AT MIDNIGHT. 



^be IDoice at nDi&ni9bt* 

NIGHT had fallen upon the quiet plains of 
Shiloh. The green orchards lay in peace, 
and the vineyards, fragrant with purple 
grapes, and the silver brook that wound in and 
out through the fertile meadows. 

On the west the dark mountains of Ephraim 
lifted up their heads unto the sky, while far away 
to the south towered the watchful guardians 
of the valley — Mount Moriah and Mount Zion. 

In the midst of these silent vineyards was the 
sacred tabernacle of the children of IsraeL 
Night was come there also. Eli, the aged high 
priest, and all the other servants of the temple, 
had lain down to sleep. There was no light 
save that a faint shining came from the golden 
candlestick that was in the holy place. 

In a little chamber close beside the veil of 
blue and purple and scarlet that himg before 
the holy of holies, a child was lying. It was 
Samuel, whose charge it was to open the outer 
door of the tabernacle when the sun rose in the 
morning, to care for the seven-branched candle- 
stick, and to do all the will of Eli. 

And it came to pass when midnight was upon 
all the temple that the Lord appeared. In a 
still voice he called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and 

99 

Lora 



Dramatic StuDteg from tbe JBible 

the child answered, "Here am I!" for he 
supposed that Eli had need of him. 

And he leaped from his couch and ran tmto 
Eli, saying, " Here am I, for thou calledst me." 

And the old priest said, " I called not ; lie 
down again." 

And he went and lay down. 

And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel! 
Samuel!" 

Then the child arose and went to Eli and said, 
" Here am I, for thou didst call me." 

But Eli answered, " I called not, my son ; lie 
down again." 

But the Lord called again the third time, 
"Samuel! Samuel!" And the child arose and 
went to Eli and said, " Here am I, for thou 
didst call me." 

And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the 
child. Therefore he said unto Samuel, " Go lie 
down and it shall be if he call thee again that 
thou shalt say, * Speak, Lord, for thy servant 
heareth.* " 

So Samuel went and lay down in his place and 
waited to see if the mysterious voice would 
come again. The richly-woven curtains of the 
temple trembled at the stirrings of the night 
breezes. The air was still heavy with the 
incense from oflf the altar. 

And in the hush and darkness the Lord came 



^be Voice at /ftlDntgbt 

and stood and called as at other times in the 
same still voice, " Samuel! Samuel! " 

And the heart of the child became filled 
with the knowledge of the glory of God. A 
brightness came from between the cherubim on 
the mercy seat that was within the sanctuary 
and shone all about him. His face glowed with 
light. 

In that hour Samuel knew the Lord, and he 
kneeled down and prayed, saying, " Speak, 
Lord, for thy servant heareth! " 



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